New York in August

nicolawaters from London

Last updated at 11:52 14 April 2005


'August in the Big Apple, the tourists come and the locals leave.' So sayeth the received wisdom.

But with the offer of free board and lodging for a week with a friend, I scoffed at this. How hot could it possibly be? Surely nothing to London's recent 40 degrees.

Stepping off the plane at JFK into a furnace I had time to re-think this notion. First piece of advice to visitors is not to arrive in mid-afternoon, when the humidity is at its worst.

The best way into town is a cab, but after 45 minutes of this I was forced to leap out at the first sign of Manhattan, and walk the rest of the way, on the basis that trudging in the heat was better than being slowly roasted alive in it.

Fortunately the city is air-conditioned to the hilt, so the heat doesn't affect enjoyment of any of the indoor - and to my mind the best - entertainments, like wonderful theatre, and cinema that's about a third cheaper than home.

Another piece of advice to visitors of an active nature is not to assume London's lenient traffic rules for cyclists are a world-wide phenomenon.

Having hired a bike on the Upper East side for a mere 20 dollars a day, within half an hour of being on it I was forced to a stop by two (cycling) policeman.

My offence: the lack of a bell and the presence of headphones (one headphone is not an offence. Two is. Pointing out that said headphones are switched off does not score points).

A happy morning hunting for the Wall Street Traffic Fines office ensued. Total cost of cycling day - $100. $80 of which for fines.

Of course, a wiser person would have cycled in Central Park, which totally lived up to billing, acres of space to ride/skate/walk which never seemed to be crowded even on a weekend.

Areas of the park are designated quiet which leads to amusing signs such as suggested activities: reading, sleeping, daydreaming.

However, clutching your map of Central Park does not guarantee successful navigation.

In spite of aligning the map with where I was going and following diligently, I nonetheless managed to wander in circles for hours.

My New-York-living friend reassured me that this habit is not restricted to visitors.

A nice city - althought rather overwhelming even for a Londoner - but August not the best time to visit. If I go again I shall be looking for a heavy snowfall first.

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